FENCE MAKEOVER

Gather your supplies

Posts 88 x 88mm primed treated pine

Rails 90 x 42mm primed treated pine

Pickets 66 x 18mm primed treated pine

You’ll also need Pressure washer; low sheen exterior paint in dark grey and white; painting equipment; stringline; drill; 5mm drill bit; spirit level; clamps; 5 and 8mm masonry drill bits; 50mm blue wall plugs; hammer; 150 and 100mm galvanised baen screws; exterior timber filler; sandpaper

For you to note

Coat all the lengths of timber with white exterior paint before installation. Apply timber preservative to the cut ends prior to painting.

Here’s how

STEP 1 Use the pressure washer to thoroughly clean the existing fence. Let dry, then apply 2 coats of the grey exterior paint.

STEP 2 Stretch a stringline between the columns on the fence. Cut posts to run down column from the stringline. Predrill 5mm holes through each post where it will sit on the column. Hold post against side of column so top meets stringline and make plumb. Clamp to hold. Drill through holes in post using a 5mm masonry drill bit to mark column.

STEP 3 Remove post, then drill holes in column where marked using an 8mm masonry drill bit. Remove dust from hole, then tap in blue wall plugs.

STEP 4 Reposition post, then aach to column using 150mm baen screws going into the wall plugs.

STEP 5 Cut rails to fit between columns. Hold against posts so top rail is 30mm below top of posts. Predrill and screw rails to posts using 100mm screws.

STEP 6 Cut pickets to length to run from top of posts to about 30mm short of fence. Also cut a 30mm spacing block to sit on the top of rail and another block to create the gap between pickets, here 19mm. Hold first pickets against rails, make plumb and nail in place. Continue aaching pickets using the spacing block for even gaps. STEP 7 Fill nail holes in pickets using exterior timber filler. Let dry and sand smooth. Touch up paintwork.

NOTHING ADDS CHARM TO YOUR STREETSCAPE LIKE A PICKET FENCE

STEP 1

STEP 4

STEP 6

STEP 5

STEP 2

STEP 3